Five Milwaukee artists will present their ideas for public art at the new East Branch of the Milwaukee Public Library Thursday evening. The finalists, selected based on their past work, include:

Laci Coppins is proposing curved glass panels printed with images that represent memories gathered from the neighborhood about library experiences. The panels would be installed on columns and animated through the use of augmented reality. | Sept. 11, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(4)

Coldplay has made its first song ever for a motion picture soundtrack - "Atlas" for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," in theaters this November. But is the song any good? Associated Press photo by Roberto Pfeil.| Sept. 11, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

This week the Library of America publishes "John Updike: The Collected Stories," a two-volume boxed set of 186 stories arranged in chronological order. Most, but not all, of these appeared first in The New Yorker; for more than 50 years, beginning when he was 22, Updike had an agreement with that magazine that it got to see his work first before he offered it elsewhere.

This LOA twofer isn't however, The Complete Collected Stories. It includes only one of Updike's Joan and Richard Maple stories, and only one of his stories featuring the imaginary (though highly entertaining) novelist Henry Bech. The other Maple and Bech stories, editor Christopher Carduff says in his "Note on the Texts," are being saved for a future LOA volume. | Sept. 11, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(4)

They plan to roll out the barrel at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., during the first Oktoberfest celebration on the grounds.

The two-day celebration will be held on the grounds on Sept. 20 and 21 and will feature a traditional fish fry the first night and a pig roast the second for purchase. Music will be provided by the Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band, Orvile Konop and the OK Dance Band and The Tom Brusky Band. Admission is free. | Sept. 11, 2013»Read Full Article

It just so happens that a great, big art train will be rolling through the Badger state today. The "Station to Station" train, expected to pass Milwaukee's downtown Amtrak station about 11:30 a.m. on its way to Minneapolis, is a glowing, artful spectacle that grows brighter when it moves faster. (It is expected to cross the Wisconsin River at Wisconsid Dells about 1:30 p.m.) Keep an eye peeled for an amazing sight.

Here's what else is going on today. Why not toast to the planet and have some "green" drinks with other environmentally minded Milwaukeeans. The Denim Park Summer Music Series continues with Todd Day Wait's Pig Pen, in from California, this evening. The park is located at the corner of Water and Pleasant streets. The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Sept. 11, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(4)